Today’s market offers a plethora of new gadgets and devices that claim to make our homes smarter, safer and more efficient. But, as with any new smart technology, consumers should take extra precautions to ensure these devices are secure.
Internet-connected cameras have brought significant convenience to the way we monitor the security of our
As connected devices, like home monitoring and security cameras, become increasingly popular, it’s important that we know how to secure our digital lives.
homes, children –– even our furry family members! As connected devices become increasingly popular, it’s important that we know how to secure our digital lives. The U.S. Department of Commerce offers the following tips for protecting smart devices:
Get creative with passwords. Change your device’s factory security settings from the default password. This is one of the most important steps to take in the protection of internet-connected devices.
Keep tabs on your apps. Most connected devices are supported by a smartphone application. Your smartphone could be filled with apps running in the background or using default permissions you never realized you approved. These apps can gather personal information without your knowledge while also putting your identity and privacy at risk. Check your app permissions and say “no” to privilege requests that don’t make sense.
Connect and protect. Whether it’s your computer, smartphone, game console, camera or other connected devices, the best defense is to stay on top of things by updating to the latest security software, web browser and operating system.
Source: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)